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Sure, five pre-season games and series of practices are already in the books, but now that the number of players has been cut to 38 — which is still bloated because it includes a handful of injured players — we’ll get down to the short strokes between now and Oct. 1.

The players enjoyed a couple days off before returning to practices Friday through Sunday and readying for pre-season tilts Monday against the New York Rangers and Wednesday versus the Phoenix Coyotes.

There are plenty of storylines to follow over the coming week, and plenty of battles for NHL roster spots to be contested.

Here’s a look at them.

Goalies

In camp: Karri Ramo, Joey MacDonald, Reto Berra.

The sure things: None, since the team said they won’t carry three.

Ramo likely has the inside track as the No. 1 and made a strong case for himself with a very good performance Tuesday in Regina, which was something of a bounce-back outing from his pre-season debut a few nights earlier in Edmonton. After four seasons in the KHL, he will have an adjustment period, but Ramo will be given his chance to show he deserves to be the starter. He’ll likely get another full game over the final two pre-season tilts to state his case.

MacDonald is pencilled to be the No.-2 netminder and has done nothing to show he’s not the same goalie who was solid for the Flames last season.

However, Berra is the wildcard. He’s playing in North America for the first time, so nobody really knows how he’ll adapt to the style of game and smaller rinks. Berra has been good in both of his outings, and if he’s given another full game, it will be with the chance to prove he deserves to stay on a NHL roster. So far, the team loves his competitive nature.

It wouldn’t be a major shock if the team sent MacDonald to the minors, but, that said, Berra would benefit from developing his game in the AHL.

Seven defencemen — Giordano, Wideman, Brodie, O’Brien, Russell, Smith and Butler — are on one-way contracts, so there is no obvious hole to be filled.

That said, should one of the youngsters — Ramage, Sieloff and Wotherspoon are serious contenders — push the door open and grab a roster spot, the Flames have shown a willingness to put a one-way contract in the minors.

By no means does the team have to force a player into the NHL without some minor-league seasoning (by the way, none of Ramage, Sieloff nor Wotherspoon have played in the AHL, and all three could be sent to the Abbotsford Heat), but if any of them makes a strong enough case, the Flames could carry an eighth blueliner to make space.

The goaltending battle may be the most obvious, but the test to see who’ll be the men in the middle has the most permutations.

For starters, Monahan — the sixth overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft — will be given every chance to make the opening-day roster and should at least receive a nine-game audition before a decision is made whether he’ll return to the junior ranks.

Galiardi is being converted from the wing, and fared well so far, but could be moved back if enough centres force their way onto the team.

Jones has a one-way contract, but was sent to the minors most of last season, while Horak has been trying to add more offence to go with his strong defensive play.

Knight was given an NHL number (10) upon arriving, but has not shown he’s a slam-dunk big leaguer yet in his first pro season. Reinhart missed some time due to injury and is trying to catch up, while Granlund hasn’t carried his strong performance in the Young Stars Tournament into main camp.

The wildcard is Jooris, who was signed as a free-agent after the summer prospects camp and continues to impress. He may force his way onto the roster, even as a winger.

At first glance, there aren’t a lot of holes, but there aren’t a lot of players beyond the usual suspects pushing.

That said, Bouma has been very strong, especially for a player who lost almost all of last season due to a horrific knee injury. Ferland has potential, but truly needs some time in the minors to develop.

Plus, a few players who are listed as centres, especially Horak, Reinhart and Jooris, are just as capable of playing on the wing if they earn a spot.

Flames: position-by-position battles

Sure, five pre-season games and series of practices are already in the books, but now that the number of players has been cut to 38 — which is still bloated because it includes a handful of injured players — we’ll get down to the short strokes between now and Oct. 1.

The players enjoyed a couple days off before returning to practices Friday through Sunday and readying for pre-season tilts Monday against the New York Rangers and Wednesday versus the Phoenix Coyotes.

There are plenty of storylines to follow over the coming week, and plenty of battles for NHL roster spots to be contested.